March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 128

He shook his wrist a couple of times. He curled his fingertips, then swung his arm widely to check its range of motion. Even though he’d used the weakest one, the medicine must have taken effect, as it had healed completely in no time.

Gi Taejeong walked with an expressionless face. Several flamboyant decorations, added since before, clanked with his movements. Among them, what caught his eye most was the symbol of a major general, attached above his gleaming golden name tag.

On the shoulder of his uniform, there were two stars and chrysanthemums, and badges symbolizing the military and air force dangled from his lapels and above and below his pockets.

To command combat operations wearing such impractical clothes. They order this kind of uniform because they give decision-making power to bastards who’ve never even fought a real battle. Of course, there were separate combat uniforms and work uniforms, but given his rank, he now had far more duties that required wearing the dress uniform, making it incredibly inconvenient.

“You’ve arrived, Major General.”

Gi Taejeong clicked his tongue softly and nodded.

He was no longer a brigadier general, but a major general. It felt like a long time since he’d been called to various places wearing these insignia, but the title still felt unfamiliar. Why was it so hard to adapt this time, when he usually adjusted within a day? Was it because he was getting old?

Gi Taejeong, lost in idle thoughts, let out a small laugh and cast his gaze into the empty corridor. It was an obviously foolish question. He didn’t want to forget the voice that used to call him “Brigadier General,” with that slightly drawn-out, unique tone. He feared that if he grew accustomed to the new title of Major General, that past might become as if it never happened. So, even with the additional star he had so desperately desired, Gi Taejeong remained stiff.

“Kim Seokcheol?”

“We have him confined with CEO Son.”

“Was the antidote administered?”

“Yes. He’s fine now. He shows mild seizure symptoms, but it’s within a normal range.”

The seizures themselves were probably due to his body struggling to cope with being perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened, thanks to the antidote.

The sensation of his wrist being severed and his abdomen torn was still vivid, yet his skin was smooth and the bleeding had completely stopped, as if all that pain had been a lie. It would be strange if he didn’t go mad. Even Kim Seokcheol, who was accustomed to taking the antidote, half-lost his mind and wailed when his body regularly burst apart.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yeah.”

He slept only as much as necessary and ate the bare minimum. That was how he could survive and keep moving.

The flimsy window of the House rattled, unable to withstand the biting winter wind. Just when he thought it was a bit chilly, winter arrived in an instant, and then the year changed. It felt like an eternity had passed, but counting it, only five months had gone by since Lee Sehwa left.

The old corridor creaked with every step. House 4, abandoned by its caretakers and left with only observers, was no different from a ruin. Unidentifiable weeds had begun to grow in various dilapidated parts of the building, and the damp smell of water-stained mold on the ceilings and walls refused to dissipate.

Added to that were the metallic smell, the scent of bleach, and the musty odor peculiar to old paper, making anyone who first stepped inside gag.

Still, the musty smell of ledgers and blankets would somewhat fade if the windows were left open, but the coppery stench of bundles of banknotes hidden in every corner of the building wouldn’t leave, no matter what he did. He knew that the smell of old money could be quite pungent, but somehow, even that felt like it was due to the dark desires of the people who frequented this place.

“Major General! Just in, Lieutenant Colonel Kim’s bankruptcy filing has been rejected!”

Sergeant Major Choi—no, Warrant Officer Choi—slyly interjected, his face beaming.

When everything was winding down, his subordinate officers were given choices. He had expected them to choose a complete name change rather than promotion, but it was surprising that they all chose rank insignia as a matter of course. Those from the detention center were often criticized for having a chaotic system, and they reasoned that if the adjutants serving a major general had poor experience, it would only reinforce such criticism.

Normally, he would have snapped at them to stop messing around and look out for themselves, but this time, Gi Taejeong nodded silently. He simply acknowledged their past loyalty curtly, saying that merits would soon accumulate, and then he would give them new names and higher positions.

Now, Gi Taejeong was also paying some attention to outward appearances. That way, Sehwa wouldn’t get hurt.

‘Those people you took when you first occupied the House. Were there any selection criteria?’

Shortly after sending Sehwa off at the beach, he encountered General Oh Seonran at the Ministry of National Defense building. He had expected to ignore him and pass by, but the general unexpectedly asked him something. What were his criteria for keeping people close, how did he punish, how did he reward, and did he keep in touch with anyone after the trial… such useless things.

‘I mainly chose people who wouldn’t cause problems even if they died immediately.’

‘Sifting out spies is one thing… but why the others? Is there a reason for that judgment? It’s much easier to work with tight-lipped guys than to kill them all.’

‘It’s easier to use and discard people immediately than to carefully select and observe each trustworthy person.’

“Guys who could be killed” didn’t just mean spies. Among them were some who, perhaps dissatisfied with the strict treatment, idly ran their mouths and lowered morale within the unit, and others who subtly despised those from the detention center.

There were also some who were taken simply because they caught his eye, and these returned to their units without major issues. There had to be some who survived unscathed, so that rumors would spread about how terrible things could get if they didn’t obey him.

But General Oh Seonran shook his head at that.

‘You saw Lieutenant Colonel Kim manipulating people who were utterly insignificant by your standards while preparing for the trial, didn’t you? That doctor, or the parents obsessed with their child’s school district… Though they may not be great selections, the ability to mobilize such people whenever he needs them is undoubtedly a formidable weapon.’

‘……’

‘You’re a major general now, aren’t you? If you’ve already postponed your discharge, I’d recommend you gradually change the way you handle subordinates. If you don’t want to repeat what you did to Sehwa.’

‘……’

‘It’s convenient to use people or weapons as much as needed and then discard them. Your pushing Sehwa was probably based on that judgment. You didn’t deliberately target and torment that child, did you? You just wanted to use him efficiently as Kim Seokcheol’s accomplice?’

‘……’

‘But I believe you’ve realized by now that such a method wasn’t the only answer.’

He wasn’t giving him advice because he had a soft spot for him. General Oh Seonran told him to change for Sehwa’s sake.

‘You don’t want Sehwa to hear any dirty words, do you? Then you have to change too. Wouldn’t it look more natural if you at least pretended to try to change my mind? That way, people will think you didn’t just achieve your goal and then abandon Sehwa.’

That made him snap to attention.

He wouldn’t be able to meet Sehwa again, so he couldn’t even repeat his mistakes, but he still had to be different from before. He could no longer stubbornly stand alone as he always had. Having someone he wanted to protect meant that.

Honestly… he wasn’t genuinely following General Oh Seonran’s advice. He admitted, without a doubt, that he had wronged Sehwa. But he still didn’t understand why he should show mercy to others.

Even if he acted generously, others wouldn’t truly admire him. Damn it, it would be a miracle if they didn’t take advantage of him just because he loosened up a bit.

However, he couldn’t stand the thought of Sehwa being treated poorly among the five-star generals. Just imagining it made him furious. How dare anyone speak ill of him behind his back?

So Gi Taejeong was trying, little by little. When his subordinates did their jobs well, he would tell them they did a good job, and he would also give appropriate rewards to the distant soldiers. That was all for now, but even that made Lieutenant Na—no, Captain Na—shed tears of gratitude, saying he had changed a lot.

He was also enduring the elders who immediately started spouting nonsense at him as soon as he showed even a slight softening. In particular, he sometimes met with military personnel or businessmen who were at odds with Lieutenant Colonel Kim. It was just a simple lunch, not even accompanied by drinks, but for those who clearly remembered the old Gi Taejeong, it was a change akin to a complete transformation.

“Major General, are you going to deploy again this time?”

“I have to.”

Well… despite everything, what Gi Taejeong dedicated himself to most was keeping his reputation from diminishing, which meant rolling around on the battlefield.

He deliberately chose only rugged, high-altitude battlefields for deployment. He even devised reckless strategies that made his adjutants flinch, and sometimes, going alone, he would even go to places that didn’t need to be occupied, plant his flag of victory, and return.

Naturally, his appearance was a mess. Losing an arm after being crushed by a giant fighter jet didn’t even count as a war story. In an era without the current medical treatments, he would have been interred in the National Cemetery long ago.

“This whole charade seems to be reaching its limit, though.”

No matter how dangerous, the battlefield, where he could thoughtlessly wield his sword and gun, was somehow more comfortable. Piloting a fighter jet according to the manual and dropping weapons on target locations was not difficult at all.

However, recently, concerns about his actions had begun to surface. They said that even though he was a major general now, it wasn’t a good look for an officer to take on everything alone, and gossip spread everywhere.

In Gi Taejeong’s view, it was just an excuse. It was obvious that those who barely got into the military academy through family connections and only dabbled in a few mock battles wouldn’t be able to handle him when he was determined to fight.

In such a situation, if he became a major general now and soon a lieutenant general, the number of troops under his command would become significant. The military bastards began to worry needlessly, wondering if this monster who wouldn’t die even if killed would stage a coup.

Gi Taejeong tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. Everything was precarious, like walking on a tightrope. He wished someone would give him a signal. That Sehwa was safe no matter how much he raged, that he, a piece of filth, had shed everything and was living a clean, peaceful life… Then he felt like he could throw everything away without any regrets.

“Opening the door.”

Lieutenant Park, who still referred to himself as Second Lieutenant Park, took a short breath and opened the door to the room where CEO Son and Kim Seokcheol were confined. A sour, stale stench, incomparable to that in the corridor, assaulted his nose.

“Get up. It’s time to eat.”

The two figures, slumped over the bar, twitched and rose.

Gi Taejeong accompanied Kim Seokcheol on most combat missions. He would push him to the brink of death, and then, if it became truly critical, he would force the antidote into his mouth. He deliberately left one leg damaged, but always reattached his hands perfectly.

Then, after finishing their work and returning, he would confine them in House 4 and make them fight over meals with CEO Son. To be precise, he didn’t explicitly order them to fight. He simply gave them one meal tray and told them to share it themselves. They could have shared it amicably, but it was always their choice to attack each other as if to kill.

“You know this is the precious meal CEO Son gave Sehwa, incurring a debt of 100,000 won each time, right?”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”

“But I’m giving it to you for free. Without asking for money.”

He nudged the edge of the meal tray with his foot, telling them to eat it gratefully, and the two lumps, no longer looking human, struggled and reached for the food.

“Keep a close eye on them so they don’t die.”

“Yes. Are you going to the official residence?”

“…No, I’m going to House 2.”

“But… no, I will escort you.”

Ignoring the suddenly desolate gazes of Lieutenant Park and Warrant Officer Choi, Gi Taejeong strode away.

He hadn’t visited the official residence since Sehwa left. He kept making excuses, saying he would get a new official residence when he became a lieutenant general and staying in his current one, but somehow, he couldn’t easily open the front door and go inside.

Sehwa’s traces remained exactly as they were. The trajectory of Sehwa walking inside the official residence, that pitiable and beautiful face that cried and laughed there—Gi Taejeong felt he could draw it even with his eyes closed.

The first-floor reception room, in particular, was a sight to behold. It was originally a place where various emergency equipment had been brought in for the ailing Sehwa, but all of that had been moved up to the bedroom, and the entire room had been decorated as a baby’s room. He knew it was foolish of him to have people clean and polish it meticulously every time, even though he couldn’t set foot in it, and he knew it was a space that would never be used… but he couldn’t bring himself to face it properly, so he ended up avoiding it.

There was a time when he vaguely dreamed of such days: Sehwa, who had refused to look at him, gradually starting to look back at him with a smile; the sweet smell of formula filling the room; him helping Sehwa, who was fumbling with equipment, not knowing how to handle it; and then, suddenly remembering old times, Sehwa sternly rebuking him, and him apologizing like a child, complaining that he was sorry… all without knowing that Sehwa’s insides were so damaged.

“What’s the situation at House 2?”

“Fighter jet operations have recovered to a manageable level, but it’s difficult for the giant cargo airship to move normally.”

“The old folks must still be wailing. Did you find that person?”

“Ah, Mr. Song from the restaurant? Yes. He was still working at the same place.”

“How much debt did he have again, that person?”

Gi Taejeong, after hearing the amount from Captain Park, gave instructions nonchalantly. He was to anonymously gift Mr. Song a lottery ticket. It wasn’t just about handing over a piece of paper and ending it; it was an implicit command to make the number on it win the first prize, no matter what.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just repay his debt? Windfall money like lottery winnings can attract greed from others, and he might also unintentionally spend it elsewhere…”

“That’s none of my business. How can I stop him from pouring money into useless places?”

Though the direction was somewhat odd, this was the maximum kindness and apology Gi Taejeong could offer.

What would Sehwa have said if you saw this…? Would he have been exasperated, asking why a person acts like that, telling him not to be spiteful if he’s going to help anyway? He might have interfered, telling him not to gloss over it with money but to properly apologize for the past.

But whatever it is, Sehwa, damn it, I definitely seem to be a hopeless bastard. Even in this situation, I still want to hear a little praise from you, saying I did well.

Gi Taejeong lit the cigar he had been given and started walking. Something sticky, like lingering regret, clung to his combat boots, making an irritating squelching sound.

Somehow, he didn’t die, he recovered when injured, he gradually took care of his subordinates, exchanged insincere pleasantries with military officials, and constantly re-traced his memories with Sehwa… That’s how Gi Taejeong was living. He might not have been well, but he was alive and breathing.

“Hmm, how should I explain this…”

General Oh Seonran’s aide, whom Sehwa still didn’t know whether to call a military doctor or just a doctor, stroked his chin in a troubled manner.

“Anyway, I think it’s good news… Mr. Lee Sehwa.”

“Yes.”

“In the recent blood test, there was a rather significant reaction.”

Sehwa fiddled with the thickened hospital gown top, which had grown heavier with the change of seasons, and looked at the screen the military doctor had displayed. It was a cross-section of his own body, now familiar, but the movements of his heart and blood vessels were clearly sluggish at a glance.

And that wasn’t all. The counseling sessions also yielded no particular results. He was diligently taking his psychiatric medication and faithfully attending counseling therapy at scheduled times… but he was still stuck in place. He wanted to get better, he wanted to change. That much was clear, but his terribly weakened mind couldn’t keep up with his will.

The counselor told him to speak freely, but he simply couldn’t open his mouth. There were days when he wanted to pour out everything. But to bring up the words stuck inside, there was too much he had to explain to the doctor in charge beforehand.

Where should he even begin to pull out this depression and worry? Sitting there blankly, when the time ended and he stood up, a greater sense of self-loathing would suddenly overwhelm him than before. It was a relief if it just ended with him fumbling. There were many days when he would come out of the counseling room, pale and crying like a fool.

Even this morning, walking down the corridor to the recovery room, Sehwa had idly wondered what it would have been like if he had been a little older.

If he had experienced all sorts of things. If he had already had a few relationships. If he had met Gi Taejeong after he had become a little more grown up… what would it have been like then?

He wouldn’t have been so easily swayed and excited, his mood wouldn’t have changed a dozen times a day leaving him helpless, and with more experience, he might have been able to end his time with him with less pain…

Everything with Gi Taejeong seemed to have happened too fast.

“It seems Mr. Lee Sehwa’s constitution is trying to revert to normal. We suspect it’s due to the side effects of A7.”

“…Huh? What do you mean…”

What caught Sehwa, who was about to plummet to the depths again, was something he had never imagined. A normal… constitution?

“If my hunch is correct, you might not need to wear a patch when taking medication anymore. The internal reactions you’re showing now are very similar to those of ordinary people.”